Amen. My heart was pounding and I was literally on the edge of my seat during that final drive. Three (count 'em, three!) 4th down conversions. Unbelievable. I have to go watch the game highlights now and enjoy Rodgers to Cobb (thanks for the block, Kuhhhhhhhhn!) again. WOW is right!

you know, sometimes i think you get too much crap from people for providing an eeyore's-eye-view of things (which can be valuable at times), but i have to say -- if you can't just enjoy this incredible win for at least a couple of days, you need to seek professional help.

- i still think we won't go very far in the playoffs given the way our defense plays
- i still think capers needed to go before last season, and still needs to go
- i still think raji is trying to play himself out of green bay and that infuriates me
- i still think rodgers and nelson and cobb make mccarthy look better/smarter than he is

but none of that matters to my psyche until at least thursday. i was a dry sponge who was expecting disappointment who was lucky enough to soak up one of the most satisfying and thrilling victories in years instead. i will be doing nothing but oozing packer pride for the foreseeable future, and you should too.

It's unrealistic to expect to win the Super Bowl every year. The mentality that a season is unsuccessful if you don't win a championship is only going to set up you for disappointment. I believe that the goal should be to win your division and get hot at the end of the year, give yourself a chance to make a run. The Packers under TT and MM have consistently provided that. I'm not saying they don't have their flaws just like every other coach/gm, but the consistent results speak for themselves IMHO.

Capers on the other hand....I loved our D in 2010. Whether it's personnel or scheme (or both) I do agree big time changes are coming on defense.

No matter what happens next week, given the extraordinary volume of injuries to key players, I have to consider this season a success. It's A success if for nothing other then ruining duh bares season... Again... At their house... Again.

The only thing that could make me feel better would've been if Rodgers could've proved he was clutch... Oh, wait, nope... Couldn't feel any better.

no doubt! anything that happens now is just icing on the cake. after all the adversity this team (and us fans) went through this season and to make it into the playoffs is a blessing. i know that the 49'ers are a matchup nightmare for the packers, but who knows? i'm not saying that we're going to the superbowl- in fact, i'm pretty sure we're not with this many injuries and a craptastic defense. but, this game next week could be another shootout and we have a shot as long as #12 is in the game!

especially on third and one on that last drive....McCarthy must learn how to call a run game a bit better... I thought, finally on the two point conversion..they'd give it to Lacy...but never... but so what... wahooo

Couldn't you tell Lacy was completely limited? Hell he shouldn't have even played IMO. From the 1st series it was clear Lacy was a one directional runner. He could NOT run right, since he couldn't cut off his right foot. Starks could have had a buck 50 if he had played the whole game! I love Lacy as much or more than anyone, but he limited the offense today. Would have been better to rest him and play Starks all game.

Yes. 3rd and 1, quit effin around and let Lacy take it up the gut against a historically bad run D, don't pitch it out wide and hope he can turn the corner on a bum ankle. Mike really makes things harder on himself times than he needs to imo.at

3rd and 10 in SB 45, is easily the biggest play of Rodgers career. Unlikely to ever be matched. Finding Cobb on that play is probably #2, but no way it beats the throw to Jennings on 3rd and 10 to win the SB.

I had thought that that was the beginning of the drive that started around the seven-minute mark and went to the two-minute-ish mark that ended with a field goal putting us up six, leading to a final two minutes where Pittsburgh could have driven for a winning TD that took a year off my life.

Yep, good call, that one slipped my mind for some reason . I'd put that at #1 too, just edging out todays. The Pack had the lead but had lost momentum (it's real) at that point, that was a perfect throw and catch in the SB, when we needed it most.

Agree on the 4th Q SB throw. Can't get any bigger than that play. Plus it was about as good a throw as you could possibly make. Today's Cobb TD was exciting, but he was wide open. The great part of that play was ARod keeping it alive.

It should be cold enough to change the game. Anything above 30 is not at all rough for football. But once you get to 20 or below, that's a whole other kettle of fish. Speed is negated. Some guys don't want to hit in that weather. The ball is slippery. Catching is more difficult. As is making an accurate pass.

A skinny little guy like Kaepernick is built for a fast track in nice conditions. It will be interesting to see how he handles things this weekend. Especially if they get the Saturday night game.

To clarify, I definitely wasn't pissed he scored. In a perfect world, I'd have liked to see a fg as time expired. We've seen hail marry's hurt us before, see Seattle and Giants... Neither of those teams have as many behemoths as duh bares.

If we were tied with a chance to win with a FG I agree, but down by 1 you take any score you can. Especially in a cold weather game, bad snap?hold or Peppers with his crazy arms blocks it. I am fine with the TD !

I saw it on the first drive... Clearly they weren't running Lacy right cuz he couldn't cut off his right foot. After the first drive Lacy was so limited that when he was in the game they wouldn't run right. I said almost immediately they needed to play Starks and sit Lacy. Lacy hindered the offense today and shouldn't have been in the game.

Sorry but how could you miss that? It was extremely obvious! Lacy should have been on the bench all game. That he played at all is what surprised me!

I will say though. It is a nice change of pace to seeing a player tough it out and play through injuries. There are so many Pros that don't play when they have a hang nail. It is kind of refreshing to be honest.

I don't doubt Lacy's toughness one bit. But he limited the offense by playing. From his first series, I said to the guy next to me at the Packers bar I go to that they wouldn't run Lacy right. He couldn't cut off his right foot. Starks could have had at least a buck 50, vs the bears had he played the entire game. Lacy could not run right and teams are going to know it from now on until he proves otherwise.

Yeah, I agree with what your saying.
I do think they should have used Starks more then Lacy though. Lacy was probably 50% or so from what he has been like. He definitely wasn't the same guy we have been watching.

I've questioned several of MM's strategy calls this year, but his decision to go for 1 early in the 4th was spot on. He'd have taken a lot of heat if not for "the drive" (it needs an epic name), but it would have still been the right decision.

That's a flawed way to look at it. It boils down to MM not trusting the D to stop the bears from scoring another TD, and in a sense took a little pressure off of the D.

Going for two and failing at 26-28 gives them a certain 9 pt lead (hypothetically 26-35), should the bears score a TD. Instead, he guaranteed us a one possession game if the bears continued their hot streak.

No, it's the logical way of looking at it. You can run your offense in a manner that helps you get more possessions if you know you need them. They ultimately failed the 2 pointer, so had they been down by 8 and missed with 38 seconds, now you need an onside recovery just to have a shot. If they had entered that final drive down by 9 though, they would have called plays much differently to conserve clock, putting them in a much better position to get another possession. It's not about keeping it close, it's about knowing what you're going to need.

Agree with most of this, particular regarding Perry and Richardson. A-Rodg certainly zoned in on Jordy for about 1/3 of the plays, but that resulted in a 160-yard day for Sir Nelson (yeah he's deserving of knighthood) and a shoulda-woulda-coulda TD, instead of a pick and 3 sacks a la Matt Flynn.

Thank goodness for the invention of DVR. I just finished watching the game. Except for some blown coverages the secondary played solid pass defense. The run fits, however, were terrible. It appeared Capers was content to let Forte beat the Packers instead of Marshall and Jeffrey and he almost did. Cutler didn't hurt them but he didn't do anything to tilt the scales. Trestman appeared content to put the ball in Forte's hands, which in my opinion, was the smart play.

Offensively, Mike McCarthy called his best game from a strategic standpoint since the week 1 opener in San Francisco. The 2nd half was a little shaky but I liked how he controlled the intermediate middle with both Quarless and Nelson and had checkdown options in the 1st half. The 3rd and 1 slant in the 3rd quarter was just plain dumb. Even though they picked up the 4th and 1 with Kuhn it was still a telegraphed play. Cobb at the HB position in that situation? Don't get it. As I suspected, Mel Tucker ran a good dose of single high looks. It made sense but Rodgers made them pay just enough for it to hurt.

How hard/easy would it be to expect our defense to improve the run fits? Is it a matter of discipline? Or physical ability? Scheme related? How could GB be so tough against the run for the first month or so and now...this?

Normally I flip out about playcalling complaints, however, POC, you seem a little more qualified than the average fan. Or a lot. Anyway, why do YOU say the pass on third and one was dumb? (For most fans, the answer to that question is "because it didn't work".
Can the Packers expect to run the ball every time in that situation and convert?

Case in point: when Raji and Daniels lined up in front of Lacy near the goal line the first time a few weeks ago, he scored easily. The following week, same situation, he got stuffed, and many fans complained about how stupid it was. I gotta figure there are several variants they can run out of that formation but if they just knock a team on their butt, why get fancy?

I am really interested in your reply to this because I have a feeling I'm going to learn something.

I noticed a "boat load" of 98/99 Truck and Taxi from the gun today (that little Toss play to the outside). Green Bay went to the well one too many times with those plays. Plenty of gap runs today with 96/97 Power and Power Bang Spot....mostly from the gun. Didn't see any zone upon first viewing. Have to rewatch to confirm. I'm guessing no on the zone runs because there was no boot action from Rodgers and we didn't see the playaction off of it.

Aikman himself said there should have been an pass int on Major Wright. He leveled Nelson about 9 yards downfield. Just watched the replay. Also it looked like Cutler was over the LOS on the last throw. Who cares, Pack wins. NFCN Champs 3 years running. Bring on 2014, were still here.

"Richardson is never going to displace Jennings at safety if he keeps blowing tackles like he did on Forte."

Yes. This goes out to all you idiots (there are many) who kept telling me how good Richardson looked opposite Burnett. You all are stupid. Just shut up. Richardson is as bad or worse than MD jennings. Idiots. You all, including Stroh, don't know shit about football. Richardson is a CFL player at best.

Nobody looks good opposite Burnett. In 2010 Peprah looked good playing opposite Collins, Next season was rubbish playing opposite Burnett
Richardson is not the saviour of our secondary but at least when he gets beaten he was at least in position to make a play not 40 yards away like the other safeties
Draft can't come soon enough.

Glad I don't bet the Packer Game. I didn't think GB would cover the 3. I was wrong. I am glad the Forty Niners are coming here. I do have $$$ on GB for the NFC &amp; the SB. If we would win Sunday, against ??, we would probably play them next out there. I'd just as soon play them here, &amp; get it over with. We're 2 1/2 - 3 PT. underdogs. I like the line, from a betting stand point. Not totally sure the SB goes through Seattle, but if it does, I like our chances, if we get there.

Perry better sit down and understand, ALL teams this year have been running successfully at his side. They study the film and see that he does not have the speed or mobility to seal the edge. The 9ers will exploit this and our pourous defense but Kaperdick has an axe against the Packers and will run more than he has all season.
Dom, you better have a defense for these guys. The one youve been calling is not going to work pal.

Next year Ted lets get an offensive coordinator, yes it may cost you a buck cheapo, but MM can't call plays, manage the clock and make quick decisions. It aint working Ted.
MM should have clearly tried for two to at least tie the game. A mental midget would have known that rather than kick a meaningless extra point knowing you were still down by two???????
That is mismanagement by a guy who has too much on his mind.

If clock management isn't a factor, then yes, you'd be correct. But you don't get to assume time on the clock, so you have to tie the game ASAP if you can to ensure that you know the whole picture of what you need to do on offense. You're right that 7+1=8 and 7+2=9, but then you also have to factor in that being down 9 with 6-7 minutes left is a much more managable scenario than being down 2 with 38 seconds left, since missing the 2 in either scenario is the worst-case.

The bears were scoring TD's, no reason to believe they wouldn't score another one in 11 plus minutes. Had we missed the 2 point conversion (which I believe we are 0fer on the year) and they scored another TD, we're looking at a two score game with likely less than half a quarter to go.

I thought it was the right call at the time. Still do given how the previous 49 minutes had gone.

That said, I absolutely see that a case can be made the other way. A wrong case, but a case nonetheless.
:-)

Quote

"I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious."